Improvement in self-locking boxes



-H. A. HENDERSON.

Self-Locking'oxe-s.

NO I51Q77" PatentedJune16,l874.

ULM

' MM Qg/f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. HENDERSON, OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-LOCKING BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,977, dated June 16, 1874; application filed December 1l, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. A. HENDERSON, ot Marblehead, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a Self-Locking Box, of which the following is a specification:

The self-locking box illustrated is made in the shape of a book; but I do not oonne myself to that form.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective of the book, showing the flap, hinge, drawer, slots, and iiexible lap. Fig. II is a section ot' the book, showing the position of the hinge when the ilap is down and when locked. Fig. III shows the interior of the lock. Fig. IV is a perspective of the book.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the drawings.

a is the drawer; b, the lock; c, the bolt in position when locked; d, the bolt in position when unlocked; e, the bolt-slot; f, the slot in book when used for bank; g, the lexible flap; h, the hinge pivoted at l; j, the liap. L indi- Cates the depression in the edge of the cover.

The book is constructed so that the back or flap j opens outward on hinges h, pivoted to the ends ot' the book. The hinges h are ot' irregular form or shape, and are cut onl the lower edge sufficiently to allow the falling flap j to clear the lower side of the book, and then drop the falling tlap j clear from the run of the drawer.

The size and cut of the hinge 7L may be determined in this way: rlhe pivot Z is to be set close to the lower cover, in from the edge of the opening, a distance somewhat greater than the distance of the pivot from the lower cover ot' the book, and an arm formed as long as the distance which the pivot Z is set in, connected with the falling flap j well down on its side by an are struck from the pivot Z as a center. This forms the lower boundary of the hinge h. The upper boundary is so formed that in turning the falling flap j out, the upper part of the hinge h shall not touch the lower part ofthe upper cover of the book, and the distance from the pivot lto the upper corner of the falling iiap j is the hypothenuse ot' a right triangle, of which one leg is'the thickness of the book, and the other the distance from the pivotl to the edge. The edge ot' the upper side of the book has a slight depression or sinkage, k, to allow the iiap j to be pressed in in the operation of opening it. In the upper part ot' ythe Iiap j, about midway from either end, is arranged a lock, b, of peculiar construction. It is operated by gravity, and consists ot` a bar pivoted to and protected by a metallic plate, fastened to the inside of the apj in such a way that it may either slightly project from the upper lid of the tlap j, as it does when the box is locked, or to fall back so that it may clear the upper edge in unlocking. lVhen locked, the bar binds against the side of the metallic slot in the top of the book next to the falling back j.

This box is provided with a drawer, a., though it is optional or not; and I do not confine myself to that construction.

The book may also make a money-box or bank, in which case I make a slot, f, in one end of the book, and a corresponding one in the drawer, it' one is used. I prevent the loss ot' any money from the bank by fastening over the slot, either in the drawer or box, a flexible iiap, g, in such a manner that upon slight pressure the money can be forced past the upper edge ofthe Hap g, which then resumes its position.

To open the book, I hold it in both hands, gently press the back or ilap j over the sinkage 7.', which relieves the pressure on the bolt in position c, which falls by gravity to position d, Fig. 3, when the flap may be swung down or back on hinge l1.. Of course, in lieu of the latch and slot described, a hook and pin will serve.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In combination with flap j and cover, provided with depression k, the latch c d, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRY A. HENDERSON.

Vitnesses:

Guns. H. LrTcrIMAN, WILLIAM GILLEY, Jr. 

